Monday Reading Update & Feedback Please!

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! I can’t believe 2018 is almost over. Has anyone else been super busy this holiday season? I wish I could say it’s because I’ve been traveling but I haven’t, just a lot of busyness after Christmas. I feel like I’m finally slowing down but yes, my reading has suffered. I’ve read 1 book over the past 2 weeks and I’m starting to get frustrated by not having a book to look forward to reading at the end of the day. I’ve picked up so many books over the last few days and haven’t been able to get into ANY! I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling that happens when you can’t get into anything…like oh no, I’m never going to find another book I love! Irrational I know but I start to feel like that. This is also the curse of being a mood reader; I’m only in the mood for certain types of reads lately, namely thrillers or quality romance. P.S. Before I came back to finish writing this post I started a book …read on to find out what has FINALLY got my attention.

That being said I’ve also been thinking about blog postings for the new year and would love your quickfeedback in the comment section. What would you like to see more of on the blog…book lists, Monday Updates, Top Ten Tuesdays, Throwback Thursdays, more reviews, mini reviews, discussions, etc? I’d really like to hear what you’d like to read more (or less) of on the blog. I’m trying to come up with a more consistent posting schedule so please share any thoughts you have. I’m looking forward to talking books with you in 2019…

RECENTLY READ…

The Sandman by Lars Kepler
Published: March 6, 2018 by Knopf
464 pages

My Thoughts: This was a fantastic, creepy thriller that also had a good mystery to it. I jumped right into the series with this book (book 4) and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I love the main character, Joona, and the Scandi setting is perfect for a winter read. Plus, book 5, Stalker is coming out in Feb. If you love intelligent, plot driven thrillers give this a try

TRIED BUT COULDN’T GET INTO…

Scrublands publishes in January and was a book I was really looking forward to. The marketing blurb said it was The Dry meets Before the Fall but while it was set in Australia like The Dry that’s where the similarities ended for me. I gave this one 40% but found it to be very repetitive and to have way too much going on. The Paragon Hotel is another January release that sounded right up my alley. Set in the era of Prohibition there’s a single woman with a gun shot wound running from someone on a train bound for Oregon. The blurb says a good mystery involving a missing child comes up but I didn’t get past 10%. The writing and dialogue felt stilted to me and by 10% I had to admit I had no idea who was who or what was going on. If trusted reading friends love it I may give it another try. The premise ( a Serial like documentary with a convicted murderer) and introduction of Don’t Believe Itintrigued me and I think I’ll revisit this one another time, it just wasn’t compelling enough to hold my interest right now (DNF 15%). I’ve had She Rides Shotgun on my TBR for so long. It won the Edgar award for best debut novel which usually is a surefire sign I’ll like a book but while I know the dad in the story was an outlaw and “bad” person, I just found him annoying and didn’t care about the little girl. This is one instance I think if the author would’ve allowed me to get to know either of them before diving right into the action I might’ve been connected enough with at least the little girl to keep going (DNF 8%).

CURRENTLY READING…(as of about 2 hours ago)

Forever is the Worst Long Time was on my radar in the past but I forgot about it unfortunately. When I saw it on an Instagram favorite books of 2018 post today I immediately downloaded a sample, loved it and promptly bought it! So far it’s reminding me ofOne Day in December (My Review) with what seems like an interesting love triangle developing. I’m loving the dialogue and pace, so far so good which makes me really happy.

What have you been reading & loving lately? I’d love to know and don’t forget, if you have an extra minute, leave me a comment letting me know what you’d like to see more of on the blog for 2019!

22 responses to “Monday Reading Update & Feedback Please!”

Happy New Year Renee. Wow, four DNF in a very short time. Maybe a lot was how you were feeling. Between Christmas and New Year is a tough time. I am glad you found something you are enjoying. I enjoy reading a mixed bag on blogs. Of course Book Reviews and recommendations are things I look for, but all sorts of posts interest me, so mix it up and enjoy.

Happy New Year Renee! I love your format, mix it up, certainly agree with Kristin, keep your Friday 5, I’ve discovered new loves through that! Book reviews, leaning more towards books that are already published rather than months out. Thanks for your blog! Pam

Thanks for your feedback Pam! I especially like knowing you’re enjoying Friday’s post which I’m keeping and also that backlist titles are appreciated for reviews. I tend to feel like people only want to hear about the brand new books or what’s coming

My favourite things to read on blogs I follow are book reviews but I also like to find out what other people are reading or about to read (I take part in the weekly WWW Wednesday meme to satisfy my curiosity/nosiness). I have enjoyed your 5 on Friday posts as well. I hardly ever read romance and only the occasional thriller so I don’t think I can help much with book recommendations. Hope you find more books to love in 2019.

Charlie Donlea’s book gets super interesting in my opinion but it’s always subjective so I don’t want to tell you to keep reading if it isn’t holding your attention. I thought it was amazing, but I think I love anything he writes hahaha Haven’t read Paragon Hotel yet, but it’s on my TBR! And I loved She Rides Shotgun but it’s not one that I would recommend to everyone tbh, it’s “special” haha

As for the posts, do whatever you like. I love your 5 on friday posts and reading your reviews, I dont care if they’re long or short ^^

Hello Lovely!!
Happy New Year! I’m sorry you’ve been having trouble getting into your reads lately. I’m glad you found one that you just started to get into. I also really loved “She Rides Shotgun” but I agree with Annie that it may not be for everyone.
I love all of your posts and look forward to seeing more of them in 2019.
I hope you have a great week and hope the new year is off to a good start.
Take care and all the best!!! <3 xo

Happy New Year, Renee! I’m sorry you’ve been in a reading slump! I felt that way too for a few days over the holidays, so I wonder if maybe it was all the busyness of the season, at least in part? Paragon Hotel was my 1st DNF of the year, lol (and since I only DNFd 3 books in 2018 that says something!); I thought I’d really love it since I love historical fiction, but I couldn’t get into it at all and I read it to the 45% mark.

I love your 5 on Friday posts, so I’m glad you’re keeping those. And I always enjoy your reviews! I’ve found so many great book recommendations from you over the past 18 months! I say do what you enjoy and feel like doing. I’m ready for a change for my blog since I’m burnt out writing reviews, but I have no idea what I want to do…something to think about the start of the New Year!

Happy New Year Stephanie! Hope your holidays were good! I’m glad to hear I’m not alone on Paragon Hotel, I thought I’d like it but just no. Thanks for the feedback, I’ll continue to mix it up on posts because yes review writing can become tedious. My goal is to keep them short but helpful.

Thank you, Renee! I had a great holiday and hope you did too! No, you’re definitely not alone with the book! Sounds great! Reviews do get tedious, which is why I’m not reviewing every book I read anymore…so more reading off my TBR this year and less reading ARCs. Maybe I’ll actually start to get a dent at clearing it off, LOL. I’ll always enjoy what you write!

A lot of the things I’m thinking of could probably be considered discussions as well. Some examples I can think of are themed collections of mini-reviews; posts with blogging advice or about blogging stats; or detailed posts spending more time with a book than just a review. They’re things that often feel pretty unique to a blogger to me and they’re something I’d like to do more of myself 🙂

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